Click Clack

            by Megan Stimpson

 

            Linda snaked through the gray cubicles and found her way to her own. She sank into her tattered blue desk chair. This place is a mess, she thought. Piles of papers were heaped up in a system that had made sense before lunch but now looked disastrous. Linda picked up the closest stack, just so she could see the surface of the desk. When she set it down on top of a pile labeled 13 – What the hell did 13 mean? – she knocked over an open box of paperclips. Rolling her eyes, Linda hitched up her skirt, and crawled under the desk.

            “Ehem…”

            Linda dropped the paperclip box and jerked her head up, smashing into the desk above her. She reached for her throbbing head and turned towards the direction of the sound. Staring her in the face were a pair of fire engine red stilettos and impossibly thin ankles. Linda edged a little to the left and looked up.

            A pair of lips the same color as the shoes spoke. “Hi, my name is Abigail Summons, I’m Timmy’s – I mean Mr. Montgomery’s – new co-vice president. I going around to meet all my new coworkers.”

            Linda’s heart did a little hop. Mr. Montgomery! Linda had a crush on Mr. Montgomery, or Tim, as she called him when she gossiped with her friends. It was the same size crush she had on Tom Cruise when she was fourteen and he was the star of Top Gun.

            The stilettos tapped the floor impatiently.

            Linda brushed dark brown hair out her face and quickly got to her feet. “Ah, yes, right. Nice to meet you.”

            The new VP gave her a quick up-down and sashayed away. Realizing that she was going to need a candy bar to get her through the rest of the day, Linda took a peek in her compact mirror and walked briskly down the hall. She watched Ms. Summons, who was busy meeting the rest of the floor. Linda self consciously tugged at her blouse and tossed her hair, while she eyed the red shoes.  Red? Linda thought. Linda had never owned a pair of red shoes. Her grandmother had always told her that respectable ladies never wore red shoes. I bet Tim falls for girls like her, Linda thought glumly.

            Linda stopped when she reached the door to Tim’s office.

            “Going in?” said a deep voice behind her.

            Linda turned around to find herself face to face with Tim. “Haha, ohh no, I was just – um…”

            “Well, if you ever need to talk, I’m here,” he said, opening the door and winking.

            Linda giggled and immediately stopped. C’mon, Linda. Pull yourself together. 

            Just then Ms. Summons appeared. “Tim, hi. Oh look at you, your tie is all crooked, hah,” she said, reaching towards him to straighten it. The gold bracelets on her thin wrists jangled. “This is good actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you…” Ms. Summons launched into a long winded story. Linda sighed miserably and ducked away.

            The rest of the day was a blur. Linda couldn’t stop thinking about Tim. He winked at me! Later, on her way home, she stopped at Lawrence Hall of Science, by the twirling DNA strand and the sleek black whale. This had been her favorite place as a kid. Now, Linda liked to go here to clear her head and think, and stare out at the city below. At this hour, it was usually empty. Linda parallel parked her car in the loading zone area and walked over to the cement ledge. There was only one car in the lot, a red Porsche. As she gazed off at the sunset, Linda was startled by her vibrating phone.

            Linda paused. Could it be Tim?

            She frantically searched through her bag. Of course not, how would he have my number? But maybe…

            She found the phone and answered breathlessly, “Hello?”

            “How’s the view from there?” said a raspy voice. It was so muffled that Linda couldn’t tell if it was male or female.  

            “Wh-what? Who is this?”

            “Just wanted to tell you that you should get home and get a good night’s sleep. Gotta get up bright and early tomorrow for the staff meeting tomorrow.”

            The red Porsche revved its engine and sped off. Linda spun around and ran to her car. With shaking hands, she locked the doors and started the engine.

 

            The next morning Linda tried to walk into work like usual. Very quickly she found that this was going to be hard. She jumped and dropped her purse when the elevator doors opened and then snapped at the man who offered to help her. When the security guard on her floor wished her a good morning, she gasped and ran to the bathroom. Breathing slowly, she counted to ten and looked in the mirror. Crap, I just got here and I already look like a wreck, she thought. Linda splashed some water on her face and went out to find a water bottle. The closest thing she could find was the water cooler, so she grabbed two paper cups and filled them both to the top. It’s all right. Someone was just playing a joke on you, she kept repeating to herself.

            “Linda!” Tim’s voice boomed. “Good morning! Ready for the staff meeting?”

            Fortunately he did not stop for her reply because Linda was sure she would have burst into tears.

            “Hey there,” Ms. Summons said as she set a thin stack of papers next to the copy machine. “Watch out for him, he’s a creep,” she added with an eye roll. Seeing Linda’s startled look, her manicured hand reached for Linda’s. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, honey. One of my friends liked him a few weeks ago. What are the odds that I’d be the one to end up working with him, huh?”

            Linda didn’t say anything. The woman’s nails matched her lips, which were now a deep purple. Linda looked down at her shoes. Purple.

            Oblivious, Ms. Summons continued, “Yeah, her name was Ashley, she works down in Human Resources. I don’t feel bad for her though, she’s kind of a space cadet – you know the type, doesn’t pick up on hints.”

            “Urhmm.” Linda wasn’t sure how to respond.

            “Oh. Haha,” the woman trilled. “I’m so sorry. Tim says that I have to start being more tactful. Forget what I said.”

            But Linda was watching Ms. Summon’s hands, which were carefully organizing each copy. I’ve never seen anyone so anal about copies of the staff meeting agenda! Linda thought.

            She saw Linda’s gaze. “My secretary is out sick. Imagine that, my first week and I’m already out a secretary! It works out though, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle simple instructions, and I like everything to be just perfect. Anyways, see you in a sec!”

            The high heels click-clacked away.

 

            Linda stared at the computer screen. What if he is a creep? No. Tim – Mr. Montgomery – is decent. What does Ms. Summons know anyways? She just got here! Still, the word “creep” wouldn’t get out of Linda’s head. The kind of creep who follows you after work?

            Unable to sit still any longer, Linda stood up abruptly. Then sat back down. Then stood up. Her cubicle neighbor popped her head around the divider. “Linda? Are you okay?”

            Linda touched her forehead and realized she was sweating. Gross. “Oh, yeah. I – um, I was just going to get some water.” Damn, what is wrong with me? she thought, brushing her bangs out of her eyes and shaking her head.

            Linda chose the water fountain near the elevators; it was a longer walk and it was less likely that Ms. Summons would be there. I’m being ridiculous, she thought. The gold plaque next to the elevator doors caught her eye. Human Resources, Floor 6. Linda felt like she was in the movies and furtively glanced over her shoulder. No one was around. She pressed the down arrow. Linda didn’t want to say anything to Ashley but she knew that just seeing her would make her feel better.

 

            Standing in the elevator, Linda looked over the shiny gold panels that lined the walls and ceiling. She sighed, as the number slowly clicked down. Eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven. The wait between seven and six seemed never ending. Finally six came with a ding! Linda took a deep breath and walked out purposefully. Right away she paused. This is a dumb idea. I don’t even know her last name, Linda thought. I shouldn’t be here. I should just go back. I should –

            “Hey, did you see Taylor’s boots…”

            Linda’s thoughts were interrupted with the familiar trilling of Ms. Summons’ voice coming around the corner.

            “…and I definitely bought mine first. I told her that this wasn’t going to work, she needed to find her own shoes. I just hate people who steal stuff that’s clearly mine like that…”

            Linda and popped her head around the corner. Ms. Summons was in front of a cubicle, standing like she was ready for someone to take her picture. Linda rolled her eyes and squinted to read the name on the cubicle. Ashley Whitewaters!

            “Well anyway, just make sure you deal with that soon; I really need this done,” Ms. Summons was saying.

            “Okay, you’re the boss.”

            “Haha, great. You know how I don’t like things getting in my way, Ashley. Bye darling.”

            Linda pulled her head back around and quickly knelt down to wipe off some imaginary dust on her shoes. She heard Ashley Whitewaters talking to someone else. Abby sauntered by, humming happily to herself, and didn’t notice Linda.  Unfortunately, just then Tim strode in from the same direction that Abby had.

            “Linda? Why are you on this floor?”

            Abby whipped her head around and snickered.

            Why is everyone here right now? Linda’s mind went blank. “Umm…” she said, standing up.

            Tim shook his head and laughed. “Did you ladies notice the beautiful sunset last night?”

            Sunset? Linda’s voice caught in her throat and she coughed, spraying a little spit out at Tim. A few feet away she heard Abby laugh out loud and reach territorially for Tim’s arm. “Listen, Tim I was hoping that you could…”

            Tim and Ms. Summons stepped into the elevator.         

            Thoroughly embarrassed from the Tim encounter and sweating slightly, Linda walked over to Ashley Whitewaters’ desk. “Umm, excuse me?” she asked the head full of golden blonde curly-cue curls that sat at the desk.

            The hair slowly turned ninety degrees to reveal a profile with a very Roman looking nose. Linda paused before continuing. The Roman nose was red and runny.

            “Oh, are you alright?” she asked slowly.

            “Yes, I’m perfectly fine,” a stuffed up sounding Ashley said unconvincingly.  She swiveled her chair around completely, revealing a green-yellowish gash over her right temple. It looked exactly like the bruise Linda had on her foot from when she dropped her electric tea kettle a week and a half ago.

            “Is there something you needed?” Ashley Whitewaters asked.

            “Ah, I was just – I mean, I was wondering…well it’s really no big deal, I just –never mind.” Linda slowly backed up. “Just watch out for him,” Ms. Summons’ words ran through her head. “He’s a creep.” What have I gotten myself into? 

 

            The next morning, Linda decided to forgo her usual Starbucks coffee and scone stop and just drive straight to work. No chance for anyone to ambush her. She popped on a Celine Dion CD and by the time she reached the office parking garage she was in high spirits.

            Linda tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited for an outrageously slow red Porsche to pull into the space in front of her. When it had finally inched into the compact space, Linda sighed impatiently and kept looking for a spot. Wait, a red Porsche? she thought, remembering the car from Lawrence Hall. She slammed on the brakes and with a jerk reversed back to the spot where the car was still pulling in. Right away she noticed a strange black bumper sticker on the Porsche that she hadn’t seen before. As she waited for the driver to show themselves, Linda was positive that her heart had stopped beating. Finally, a tall coated figure stepped out of the car, holding a brief case. Turn around! Linda silently screamed. As if they could hear her thoughts, the driver of the Porsche glanced over their shoulder. Linda leaned to see the person’s face. Tim? No!

            Linda accelerated and parked as far away from the red Porsche as possible. She even waited an extra ten minutes, to make sure that she wouldn’t run into Tim.

            Once safely parked and inside the elevator, Linda pressed the “door close” button seven times. The doors shuddered and edged toward each other. At the last minute a hand reached in and stopped them. Tim popped his head in. “Good morning! I thought I saw you in your car before. I realized I had to pick up this stuff from the storage closet down here,” he said, holding up the cardboard box. “We seem to be short on secretaries and assistants this week.”

            “Heh,” Linda said weakly, feeling her knees shaking. He knows my car! She counted the floor numbers off in her head as they clicked by. One…two. Should I get off? But he can’t do anything to me inside the office building…right? Damn it, could this move any slower?

            When they reached floor six, Tim cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “I didn’t know you knew Ashley.”

            Linda tensed. He left before I talked to Ashley, how did he know I was with her? “Well no, I don’t really,” she answered quickly.

            “Hmm.”

            Linda glanced over discreetly. Did he look relieved? He definitely looked relieved. Seven…eight…almost there...

            “I mean, yes we are friends,” she said, changing her mind. “Well, not really friends, more like…acquaintances. Sort of. It’s – it’s hard to explain.”

            “I see.”

            Linda inwardly groaned. Just stop talking! Now he knows you know. Take it back! Don’t give away that you’re on to him. She looked down, letting her hair fall and hopefully cover her cheeks, which were either ghostly pale or flushed pink; Linda was so nervous she couldn’t tell which.  

            Tim adjusted the box, drawing Linda’s attention to his right hand. She tilted her head. Were his knuckles bruised looking? Does that even happen when you hit someone? Maybe not. Would Tim hit her, like he hit Ashley? Her mind was zooming in on the image of Ashley’s yellow bruise. Ten….eleven.

            The elevator stopped with a jerky squeak.

            “Hey I just found this great restaurant, it’s actually right around the corner. They have great steak there, especially cooked rare. It’s all moist, and slightly bloody in the middle–”

            Linda’s eyes widened and she scampered out. Blood!

           

            Linda spent the rest of the morning glued to her seat. She figured Tim couldn’t get her if she was around all her bustling co-workers. Half way through the day, Ms. Summons walked up with her noisy heels and knocked on the cubicle wall. Today the heels were red again, but a deeper, rose-colored red.

            “Sooo,” Abby began. “Timmy just left for LA, he has a bunch of meetings.”

            Linda sighed, comforted. Tim was going to be gone this weekend. “Really?”

            “Yeah, he’s already left actually. The first one is at 3:00, so he’s probably going to be super late for it…anyways, I’m heading out. Just wanted to let you know.”

            “Oh…thanks.”

 

            Knowing that Tim was miles away, in a whole other part of the state, Linda ventured back to Lawrence Hall after work. Once she glanced in the rearview mirror to see if anyone was following her, and laughed at herself when no one was there. Like usual she parked in the loading zone and walked over to the ledge. Linda stretched her arms out and leaned over, loving the cold breeze on her face. The sun had set and already the stars were twinkling in the sky. For every tiny star in the sky there were red and yellow car headlights and orange street lamps in the city.

            “I knew you’d be here. So predictable,” a muffled voice behind her said suddenly.

            Linda jerked her head around, only to be hit with what felt like a brick. She shrieked as she fell to the pavement. Linda reached her hand to where she was hit and it became sticky with blood.

            “Tim’s going to be mine,” the voice said. “Why can’t you silly girls get that? Stay away from him.”

            Linda heard it long before it registered in her brain. Why was that sound so familiar? And then, she knew; she didn’t have to look, she just knew. She heard them everyday, it was so obvious, how did she not get it? In the distance, an engine revved and Linda slowly lifted and turned her head. The red Porsche, but without the bumper sticker. Linda closed her eyes and could still hear it. Click, clack.